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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1992
THAT IS NOT TO SAY, HOWEVER, THAT THERE IS NOT A PLACE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SOME SYSTEM OF DECLARATION OF INTERESTS WHERE IT IS NEEDED. THERE ARE INDEED ELABORATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR DECLARATION OF INTERESTS IN RESPECT OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS. THIS REFLECTS ALSO THE IMPORTANT POSITION THAT SUCH BODIES OCCUPY
IN THE COMMUNITY. MOST STATUTORY AUTHORITIES/CORPORATIONS ALREADY HAVE SOME PROVISIONS, EITHER IN LAW OR IN ADMINISTRATIVE RULES, ON THE NEED TO DECLARE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. AND THE ICAC HAS JUST FORMULATED SOME GUIDANCE NOTES ON CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FOR ADVISORY COMMITTEES WHICH WILL BE FURTHER PURSUED. BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE NEED IMPOSE A UNIFORM AND ELABORATE SYSTEM ON ALL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES. QUITE APART FROM BEING ADMINISTRATIVELY CUMBERSOME, AND POSSIBLY COSTLY, WE MUST TAKE CARE THAT WE DO NOT DAMPEN THE ENTHUSIASM OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS. WE SHOULD LOOK AT EACH CASE ON ITS MERITS, AND DECIDE WHAT ARRANGEMENTS BEST SUIT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE. IN THIS RESPECT, WE WILL AS PART OUR ON-GOING PROCESS CONTINUE TO SEE WHERE IMPROVEMENTS MIGHT BE MADE.
ΤΟ
A NUMBER OF MEMBERS REFERRED TO THE NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE IN GOVERNMENT'S APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES. THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS THAT MORE ELECTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO SUCH BODIES. THERE ARE ALSO CONTRARY VIEWS THAT POLITICIANS SHOULD BE BARRED FROM SUCH BODIES. BUT AS I SAID IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION IN THIS COUNCIL EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, OF APPOINTING THE BEST MAN OR WOMAN TO SERVE ON SUCH COMMITTEES, INDEED, GIVING A SHORT TIME BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1991 AND TODAY, WE HAVE APPOINTED SOME 15 ELECTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS то SUCH BODIES. ELECTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW CHAIRED 12 BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.
MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT, I WOULD AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION THANK ALL MEMBERS FOR EXPRESSING THEIR INTEREST AND THEIR VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT OF THIS ADJOURNMENT DEBATE. I ASSURE MEMBERS THAT CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN ΤΟ THE VIEWS EXPRESSED. THANK YOU.
FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION SYSTEM
WILL
PART-TIME DOMESTIC HELPERS WHO ARE INJURED WHILE AT WORK BE ABLE TO CLAIM EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION IF THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992 IS PASSED INTO LAW.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID PART-TIME DOMESTIC HELPERS WERE CURRENTLY EXCLUDED FROM THE PROTECTION OF THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
"AS A RESULT, THEY CAN ONLY SEEK REDRESS BY AT COMMON LAW IF THEY ARE INJURED IN THE COURSE OF SAID.
CLAIMING DAMAGES THEIR WORK, HE
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/"IN VIEW